Knee pain at night

Posted by zacklucy @zacklucy, Oct 28, 2023

Torn meniscus, going to be a while before surgery. In meantime, I am awakened every night in enough pain to prevent sleep. This is getting old. Prescription anti-inflammatories (Meloxicam) zero help. Pillows, raised leg, lowered leg, ibuprofen, naprosyn-nothing.

Anyone have any thoughts? Thanks.

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I am in the same situation right now, meniscus torn, arthritis and some cysts. I tried everything I could imagine would help from cold laser, Chinese herbs and lidocaine patches, different painkiller, oils…..
This simple medication combines pain killer and sleep aid does it for me. You might give it a try.
Additional I have a new brace what works great if I don’t walk much.
Good luck and blessings for your upcoming surgery.

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rainerhans, thanks for you concern and thoughtful response. Will pick up a bottle today. Seeing doc tomorrow.

Thanks again.

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@gently

Lidocain patches are prescription. There are knee braces that can be worn at nigh that might make it easier to sleep, well and walk, too. https://promedeast.com/sleeping-with-knee-brace/#:~:text=A%20knee%20brace%20can%20help,to%20their%20injury%20or%20condition.

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Thanks, gently, for the article. It was very interesting.

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@zacklucy

That might be the solution, gently. Thanks. But which brace? I was able to get 4% lidocaine patches at CVS.

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https://dunbarmedical.com/best-knee-brace-for-meniscus-tear/#:~:text=Compression%20sleeves%20are%20often%20the,and%20promote%20more%20rapid%20healing. I would want the hinged brace. Probably, until I looked at pricing. Some of the compression braces seem painful to put on. It seems (to me) like it must be lateral movement that is causing night pain.
The prescription patches are only 5%.
Everything is more difficult when you can't get sleep.
I hope you have happy dreams.

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@covidstinks2023

I had this in 2018 and I want to be honest. Nothing helped me either until I had knee surgery. PT made it worse and I had to quit that. I recovered completely in about 4 months from the surgery (I'm a slow healer) and have done well. I pray you can have the surgery soon. God Bless You.

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Seconded.

My meniscus tear somehow worked into a place of intense pain. On advice of an MD friend, went to the ER and was scheduled for surgery on Monday.

Something in struggling to move around, moved the tear and the pain decreased, but didn't go away entirely. Was in my 30's at the time (1988).

So yes, if it's painful, get the surgery.

All the best.

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@rjjacobsen

Seconded.

My meniscus tear somehow worked into a place of intense pain. On advice of an MD friend, went to the ER and was scheduled for surgery on Monday.

Something in struggling to move around, moved the tear and the pain decreased, but didn't go away entirely. Was in my 30's at the time (1988).

So yes, if it's painful, get the surgery.

All the best.

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Thanks for contributing your experience!

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I was given a brace that went from my hip and past my knee to help keep in place until they could do surgery and if memory serves me it helped til I got into surgery. This was back in 2006

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@dmk

I was given a brace that went from my hip and past my knee to help keep in place until they could do surgery and if memory serves me it helped til I got into surgery. This was back in 2006

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Many thanks, DMK. Great thought. I’ll ask the doc!

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Thanks to all who offered their help here. I appreciate it greatly.

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I sleep with a loose fit compression sleeve and an ice pad in the shape of a small circle that’s cooled in the freezer.

Are you in physical therapy? Heaven - hope you feel better soon.

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